Tag Archives: Bible study

When Your Heart Is Disturbed

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This is for that reader who’s day has gone off the rails a bit. Isaiah the prophet counsels you with these words,

This is what the Sovereign LORD,

the Holy One of Israel, says:

“Only in returning to me

and resting in me will you be saved.

In quietness and confidence is your strength. Isa. 30:15

So don’t look to the world or for worldly solutions to bail you out. Look to Him and remember

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

30Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Isa. 40:28-31

It is going to be all right!

Morning Direction From Scripture 4-6-16

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And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,and even beyond their ability. 2 Corinthians 8:1-3

Grace caused joy and poverty to become generosity in the lives of Macedonians. What would grace add to your current hardship to create a supernatural blessing?

Mid Afternoon Meditation 4-5-16

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Praise the Lord.[b]

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
    who find great delight in his commands.

2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
    they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
    their righteousness endures forever;
    their horn[c] will be lifted high in honor.

Psalm 112:1-9

What are the qualities of the righteous?

Morning Direction From Scripture 4-5-16

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For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2 Cor. 7:10,11

As you consider this passage what are the differences between godly and worldly sorrow? What do you have to do to move life’s sorrows into a godly direction?

Morning Direction From Scripture 4-3-16

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We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.4In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us,c and by our sincere love. 7We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

As you read this passage what does it say about the proving ground of our Christianity? When do we most stand out as Christians? How does that challenge you personally?

Evening Meditation 4-2-16

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 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

This Scripture is often used to advise people of faith not to marry those who do not believe. Reading the context of the verse what else might Paul be referring to as a yoke?

Mid AfternoonMeditation 4-2-16

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 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him,whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 2 Cor. 5:7-11

How are living by faith, not by sight and fearing the Lord related?

The Road Through Romans Omnipresence

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Today we come to the conclusion of our discussion on the “invisible attributes of God” as outlined in A.W. Tozer’s book The Attributes of God, and referenced in Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

If you have missed any of our previous discussions they can be found on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.

Today we are speaking about the OMNIPRESENCE of God. That is the quality of God being everywhere at once.

Here to help us understand this a little better is Buffalo

Which of God’s attributes is the most difficult for you to fathom?

 

Morning Direction From Scripture 3-31-16

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 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

What does it mean to you to “be given over to death for Jesus’ sake so that life may be revealed in our mortal body?”

The Road Through Romans Graciousness

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We have been discussing the attributes of God for the last several weeks. Romans 1:20 says

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

If you have missed any of our previous discussions they can be found on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.

What do we mean when we say God is gracious? Watch this.